Cross of Iron
7.1/10
Rating
133 min
Runtime
1977
Release Year
Sam Peckinpah
Director
Cast
James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason, David Warner, Klaus Löwitsch
Quick Synopsis
Set in 1943 during the German army's difficult retreat from the Russian front, the story focuses on the tension between Captain Stransky, an aristocratic officer who clings to the belief in the Third Reich's superiority despite the dire situation, and Corporal Steiner, a brave and cynical soldier who prioritizes the well-being of his men over military honors. Stransky, driven by a desire to earn the Iron Cross and return to Berlin as a hero, hides his cowardice behind a proud facade, while Steiner openly challenges authority and remains focused on survival rather than accolades amid the chaos of war.
Detailed Synopsis of Cross of Iron
It is 1943, and the German army—ravaged and demoralised—is hastily retreating from the Russian front. In the midst of the madness, conflict brews between the aristocratic yet ultimately pusillanimous Captain Stransky and the courageous Corporal Steiner. Stransky is the only man who believes that the Third Reich is still vastly superior to the Russian army. However, within his pompous persona lies a quivering coward who longs for the Iron Cross so that he can return to Berlin a hero. Steiner, on the other hand is cynical, defiantly non-conformist and more concerned with the safety of his own men rather than the horde of military decorations offered to him by his superiors.
